Razor blade package



July 9, 1935- w. H. HooGs `RAZOR BLADE PACKAGE Filed Aug. 17, 1935 FI I l I llllll..

lnvenror. WHicLm H. Hooge, by@

Attofneld Patented July '9, *193.5I

UNITED ISTATES PATENT OFFICE assignor of two-fifths to Willi am A. ay,

Honolulu, Territory of Hawaii Application August 17, 1933, serial No. 685,557

7 Claims.

My invention relates to razor blade packages or containers, more particularly to packages for safety razor blades, and has for its object a buoyant package by means of which the used blades can be readily disposed of.

The problem of disposal of used safety razor blades has heretofore been a perplexing one. The blades are ordinarily sold in paper packages, usually with individual envelopes for the blades. These envelopes' are customarily destroyed` in removing the blades, but even if preserved give little protection for the blade and little aid in the disposal of the blade when used. It will be understood that the used blade, even though too dull to serve its purpose, is still very sharp in the common meaning of the term, and hence a menace to adults as well as children if not safely disposed of.

It is an object of my invention to provide a package or container in which the new blade may be sold, as well as a package of substantial construction which can `be used with safety in the disposal of the used blade. One of the fundamental features of my package is that it is sunlciently buoyant to float the blade in water. The package is furthermore arranged so that when a new blade is removed, the old blade can easily be inserted in its place. The package containing the old blade can then readily be disposed of by throwing it into the drain. If the buoyant package were not used, the blade would of course sink to the bottom of the drain and remain there.

For a more complete understanding of the invention reference should be had to the accompanying drawing, Fig. 1 of which is a perspective View of a razor blade package embodying my invention and containing a new blade; Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but showing a used blade partially inserted in the package; Fig. 3 is a fragmentary side elevation view showing a used blade inserted in the package; while Fig. 4 is a section View along the line 4--4'of Flg.\3 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring to the drawing, I have shown my package ior container in one form as comprising two rectangular plates or boards I0 and I`I made of a suitable rigid buoyant material, such as a light veneer wood. The two plates I0 and Il have roughly the' general outline ofthe razor blade I2 inserted between them, indicatedv by the dotted lines, but are somewhat larger, and they `have sufficient combined volume or mass to floatl the blade in water. They -aresecured tightly together, with their' sides adjacent, asl

(Ul. 20G-46) shown in the drawing, by a strong paper wrapper I3 surrounding them, and having its ends glued together. Preferably the wrapper I3 is made from paper having considerable strength, and which is resistant to water to a considerable degree, such as heavy brown wrapping paper. If desired the paper may be suitably waterproofed so as to be resistant to water, as by a coating of shellac, which protects also the glued endsoi the paper. The point is that the package is constructed so that it does not readily disintegrate when dropped in water, and therefore carries the used blade to a permanent place of disposal. Preferably also the wrapper I3 surrounds the sides and edges having the greater dimensions, leaving at least one end open forthe insertion of a razor blade between the plates. The opposite end may and preferably is closed by the wrapper. Not only are the plates sumciently thick to give the volume necessary to float the blade, but they are also thick enough to have the required rigidity to be self-sustaining when the tight wrapper I3 is applied to them.

This package when sold contains a new blade I2, as shown, which blade is inserted in the package between the two ends I4 and I5 of a strip of paper by means of which the blade can easily be removed. In other words the strip of paper of desired length is folded at the middle,- the blade placed between the two ends of the paper, with one end of the blade` against the fold I6, and then the blade is slipped in place between the plates I0 and II. The two ends I4 and I5 of the paper protrude for a suflicient distance from the plates, such as one-half inch, to allow their being securely grasped with the :lingers and pulled to remove the new blade from the package. Since the plates are held tightly together by the outer wrapper I3, as previously stated, it would be very diflicult, if not impossible, to withdraw the blade unless some suitable means such yas 'the strip of paper were provided to facilitate its removal. It is furthermore contemplated vthat the new blade-is thus easily removablewithout the necessity of breaking the wrapper I3. In fact the removal Vof the new bladeis thus facilitated to such anextent that there is no need nor desire to break the wrapper, so that the package is preserved intact for the disposal ofthe used blade. l

It will be understood that the package containing' the new blade may not be assembled in the steps indicated. For example, the new blade, the strip of paper and the vtwo plates may be assembled together in the relation described and then the paper wrapper I8 applied tightly around the plates.

Upon the removal of the new blade it is contemplated that the used blade just removed from the razor, will be inserted in the package in place of the new one but without using the strip of paper, which is destroyed. Fig. 2 shows the old blade l1 partially inserted between the two buoyant plates. For the purpose of facilitating the insertion at the old blade one of the plates is preferably made slightly longer than the other. As shown the plate Il is somewhat longer so that it projects beyond the plate I0 for a short distance such as s', or of an inch. 'I'his projecting end definitely defines one plate from the other at their ends, and hence the space between the plates, so that the used blade may be easily inserted by placing its end against the side of the projecting end oi.' the plate il.

.The used blade is then pushed in between the plates as far as possible with the fingers, preferably until its outer end is substantially flush with the end of the shorter plate I 0, as shown in Fig. 3. It is then practically impossible to remove `the blade without destroying the package. The end of the blade cannot be grasped with the fingers, and even if it could be grasped to a limited extent the blade could not be pulled out, since it is held between the plates with very considerable friction. Furthermore the projecting end of the longer plate II- serves also as a shield for the outer end of the inserted blade.

As shown in the drawing, the blade whether new or old is preferably positioned with its cutting edges midway between the two adjacent side edges of the plates. When thus arranged the plates project at each side beyond the cutting edges, as shown, so as to protect the cutting edges from damage in handling when the blade is new, and to prevent accidental contact with the edges when the blade is to be thrown away. The rigid substantial construction of the plates affords ample protection from the edges of the blade. While a double edge type blade is shown in the drawing it will be understood that my invention is applicable to the single edge type of blade as Well.

It'will be observed that the projecting ends Il and I5 of the strip of paper give a reliable indication as to whether the package contains a new or old blade. It is contemplated however that the used blade will be inserted in the package, while the blades are being changed, as soon as the new blade has been removed, and then the package containing the old blade immediately disposed of permanently by flushing it down the drain. Obviously this package may also be thrown .with safety into a waste paper basket or garbage can.

While I have shown a particular embodiment of my invention, it will be understood, of course, that I do not wish to be limited thereto since many modifications may be made, and I therefore contemplate by the appended claims to cover any such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of my invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A floating razor blade container comprising buoyant means having a volume sulcient to iloat said blade, and means resistant to water for attaching a blade to said buoyant means and for covering a cutting edge of said blade, said attaching means being resistant to water to at least such an extent that said buoyant means serves to convey the blade to a place of disposal.

2. A floating package for razor blades comprising plate means made of buoyant material having the general outline of the blade but somewhat larger, said plate means having suiiicient volume to float the blade, and wrapping means for securing the blade to said plate means, said package being resistant to water to at least such an extent as to convey the blade to a place of disposal.

3. A floating razor blade container comprising plate means made of buoyant material somewhat larger in outline than the blade having sufiicient volume to float the blade, and wrapping means surrounding said plate means, said wrapping means being resistant to water to at least such an extent that said plate means serves to convey the blade to a place of disposal.

4. A floating razor blade container comprising a pair of plates made of buoyant material somewhat larger in outline than the blade and having suilicient volume to oat the blade, and wrapping means for securing said plates tightly together with at least one edge exposed so as to provide for the insertion of a blade between them, said wrapping means being resistant to water to at least such an extent that said plates serve to convey the blade to a place of disposal.

5. A floating razor blade container comprising a pair of plates made of buoyant material somewhat larger in outline than the blade and having suilicent volume to float the blade, and wrapping means for securing said plates together in such manner that a blade may be inserted between and thereby secured between said plates, one of said plates being somewhat longer than the other to provide a projecting end to facilitate the insertion of the blade between them.

6. A floating razor-blade container comprising buoyant means having a volume suiicient to float the blade in water, and means for securing the blade to said buoyant means, said container being resistant to water to at least such an extent as to convey the blade to aplace of disposal.

7. A floating razor-blade container comprising a rectangular plate of buoyant material somewhat larger in outline than the blade, a wrapper surrounding two parallel edges of said plate to thereby provide for the insertion of a blade through one of the remaining edges of the package thus formed, said wrapper being arranged to secure the blade tightly to said plate and being resistant to water to at least such an extent that the package serves to convey the blade to a place of disposal.

WILLIAM H. HOOGS. 

